Three of the finalists being considered for the Eugene O’Neill Center’s National Playwrights Conference this year are Georgia writers who’ve had World Premieres produced by the Essential Theatre: Karla Jennings, Gabriel Jason Dean and Lauren Gunderson! Congrats to all three of them (and also to Adam Szymkowicz, whose “Food For Fish” we produced in 2009). The Essential Theatre helps send Georgia playwrights out into the world!  https://sites.google.com/a/theoneill.org/npc-2012-finalists/full-finalist-list

Continue reading →

ESSENTIAL THEATRE FLEXPASS IS A WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITY
For a Short Time Additional Savings with Early Purchase
You know you’re going to come see at least one play during Essential Theatre Festival. This year we feature world premieres exclusively written by Georgia playwrights. When you buy a six or ten ticket FlexPass now, you save even more~ up to $60 with the FlexPass 6 and up to $110. How can we do this you ask? Well, the FlexPass is a win-win situation. You lock in your savings now and can use your tickets on any date and in any combination you like and the funds pass through helping us fund the festival.

Continue reading →

The Essential Theatre is proud to announce that Gabriel Jason Dean’s QUALITIES OF STARLIGHT, the winner of the 2010 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award, will be produced this summer as part of Washington D.C.’s Source Festival. (http://www.sourcedc.org/sourcefestival/full_length/full_length.html) The Essential Theatre presented an earlier version of the play as part of the 2010 Essential Theatre Play Festival, and we’re happy that it’s moving on out into the world. Congratulations to Gabriel!

Continue reading →

2012 Essential Theatre Festival 
more info at http://bit.ly/2012_Auditions 

Evelyn in Purgatory
byTopher Payne, director Betty Hart
Five public school teachers are caught in the limbo of the disciplinary “Rubber Room”, waiting for their cases to be heard and their fates decided. Poignant and funny, it’s like The Breakfast Club for teachers, as they share secrets with each other and begin to look into their own hearts. Winner of the 2012 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award. 

Bat-Hamlet
by Jordan Pulliam, director Peter Hardy 

Continue reading →

Continue reading →

Continue reading →

If you keep meaning to come see “Next Fall” at Actor’s Express, but have been putting it off, keep in mind that this time next week, THEY WILL HAVE CLOSED.  

Twentysomething Luke, who believes in God, is deeply in love with the slightly older Adam, who believes in everything but. When a tragic accident interrupts their perfect New York life, Adam must turn to Luke’s friends and deeply religious family for support – and answers. This runaway New York hit began off-Broadway in 2009 and transferred by popular demand to Broadway in 2010. The New York Times called Next Fall “smart,

Continue reading →

The Essential Theatre congratulates James Beck on the World Premiere of his dark comedy BLEACH at the Lionheart Theatre in Norcross, running Feb. 10 – 19.  (Visit http://www.lionhearttheatre.org for details.)  Essential did some development work with James on this play, part of our ongoing mission of supporting new work by Georgia playwrights.  Here’s what James had to say about working with us:  “Peter led the group in a constructive feedback session that allowed me as the playwright to experience my play, to question it and to gather new creative energy to apply in crafting the work. Peter did a great job of understanding that the playwright has to solve the riddle of the play but offered,

Continue reading →

Just a reminder — the Essential Theatre is accepting short plays to be considered for this summer’s THE LOCAL project.  We want plays set at specific locations in Atlanta, and we’re accepting submissions through Jan. 15.  You can e-mail submissions to [email protected].  The plays can be in any style, can be realistic or not, and be set in the past or the present.  We’re hoping to get submissions about as many different real places in Atlanta as possible.  This project is meant to about Atlanta, the place we live, written by the people who live here.

Continue reading →

Essential Theatre seeks a talented graphics designer who enjoys theatre and is able to work for a small stipend and tickets.

The Essential Theatre has long been the leading champion of Georgia playwrights, producing and developing many new plays by local writers.  Coming up in 2012, we’ll be celebrating the 25th year of our existence by presenting our first-ever ALL GEORGIA PLAY FESTIVAL!
 
EVELYN IN PURGATORY by Topher Payne
World Premiere!
Five public school teachers are caught in the limbo of the disciplinary “Rubber Room”, waiting for their cases to be heard and their fates decided. 

Continue reading →